By Jean Ann McKirdy

Sandra leads the group  along the gravel section at the start.

Barry’s Roubaix, and old twist on the classic Paris Roubaix, lived up to its name and came through as a challenging, and technically demanding race. I have wanted to win this race, since I first competed in it when I began road racing in 2004. As a racer whose roots are in mountain biking, a road race that is 40% gravel and contains promise of wind or rain is a thrill. The last time I competed in the event, two years ago, I disappointingly flatted on the first lap and spent the rest of the race doing the lonely laps-of-shame.

This year I went into the race with two teammates: Sandra Walter and Rachel Canning. Sandra’s fiery efforts, and Rachel’s race savy, were a huge help in the race. We were able to lead the race and have a large input in dictating its pace.

The race pace was conservative from the start. It had been lengthened from its previous 60km distance, to a longer 100km, and with a smaller field everyone was being cautious with their efforts. After a couple of laps we began to test the field. Everyone was still fresh at that point, and most attacks were quickly chased down. Sandra, however, was able to get a gap from the group early in the race. With Rachel and me following anyone who made an effort to bridge to her, she easily stayed out, and forced some of the other teams and racers to work to bring her back. Eventually the Westwood Cannondale duo of Kristine Brynjolfson and Jasmin Galesser worked together to bring her back.

After what felt like a couple of laps of casual group riding, which almost bored Sandra to death (mountain biker), the pace began to pick up again. With about half way to go, the pace on the dike section was becoming faster, and animated by attacks from our team and Westwood Cannondale. Coming off of the gravel I was finally able to put in an effort in that fractured the group. Claire Cameron (Mighty Riders), Kristine Brynjolfson (Westwood Cannondale), Jennifer Schultz (Fresh Air/ Balance Point Racing), and Marie-Claude Gangnon (Glotman Simpson) and myself gained a gap, and quickly began to work together to increase it.

The only thing that could have made it better would be for me to have a teammate in the group. Luckily for me, Sandra is a feisty red head, who is used to riding with her nose in the wind on her mountain bike. She bridged up to the group, and then I knew I would have someone to cover my back.

With just under three laps to go I attacked on the gravel again, and with Sandra covering chasers, we split the group further. Kristine and I got a gap on the group, and pulled away on the gravel. Clare bridged up to us, and caught us on the road section. Then the race began to be more interesting.

With two laps to go, the pace began to get slack, and I could feel Claire and Kristine conserving for the finish. I figured my race-mates would be more comfortable with a sprint finish. I could see they were more comfortable on the road, and I could tell I had an advantage on the gravel sections.

I decided that, going into the last lap, I would attack entering the gravel, and try to solo away for the win. It was a little bit risky, because there was a possibility that they could work together to catch me, but I knew I was much more comfortable on the dirt, and that it would be difficult for them to work together on the loose bumpy surface in the crosswind.

I went into the gravel corner fast, and attacked hard coming out of it. Due to my winter of cyclocross racing, I managed to quickly get a gap out of the loose corner, and then I worked hard to sustain it. My effort had split Kristine and Claire up, and I could see Claire chasing hard behind me. On the 4km gravel section I was thinking “wow, this is great. Maybe I will win.” But when I pulled off of the gravel, and hit the wind on the way back to the start finish, I began to really hurt. I could still see Claire behind me, so I just kept trying to squeeze through the wind, and keep my speed up. I spent a lot of time looking at my stem in the last 6km.

When I finally came around to the finishing stretch, I looked back and saw that I was alone. I was able to raise my hands as I crossed the line, in my first win on the road. Well I guess in all honesty, it was only 60% on the road. To top the day off I received a bottle of special edition Barry’s Roubaix Gold Brew on the podium.

Thank you Sandra and Rachel, for the great teamwork, Dave for the stellar race support, and Rich and Sarah for feeding us during the race!